Carlingford summer school to examine Brexit - what else?!

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has unveiled the programme for the eighth Annual Thomas D'Arcy McGee Summer School which takes place in Carlingford Heritage Centre (CHC) on 20th-21st August 2019.  The summer school is open to all members of the public and tickets can be purchased via the CHC Website: www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com 
This year’s programme will explore the topical theme, ‘Brexit – Back to the Future’. A panel of world-class experts will gather to will reflect on the instability evident in the lives of our politicians, businessmen, academics and the wider communities – north and south, east and west.
Historical perspectives will be explored by leading historian and Sunday Independent columnist, Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards and Prof David Wilson of the Celtic Studies Programme and History Department at the University of Toronto. Dr Tim O’Connor, a distinguished Irish diplomat, and the first Joint Secretary of the North South Ministerial Council will discuss pragmatic paradigms for mutually beneficial cooperation and he will be joined by other experienced leaders of cross border cooperation. 

Political commentator, Eamon Mallie, will chair the ever popular, Politicians’ Forum which will include a lively round up of views from leading politicians from across the island of Ireland such as Claire Sugden, Independent Unionist, East Londonderry, Former Minister for Justice and Bríd Rogers, Former Northern Ireland Executive Minister and founder member of the SDLP . Other special guests include Mark O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Museum of History, Ottawa, and Robert Kearns, Chairman and Founder, IrelandPark Foundation, Toronto.
The Thomas D'Arcy McGee Summer School also includes a vibrant cultural programme, headlined this year by fiddle maestro and Dundalk-native Gerry O’Connor who will be accompanied by fellow Dundalk flute player, Nuala Kennedy.  Cross border musical harmonies will be provided by the Altnaveigh and Carlingford pipe bands in a spectacular open air display at the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Exhibition Centre, to celebrate the bestowing of the Irish Canadian Person of the Year award to Pat O’Callaghan. The award’s first recipient was General John de Chastelain in 2018, and this year’s award and citation will be delivered by Ray Bassett, former Irish Ambassador to Canada.
To find out more about the programme or to enquire about ticket sales, contact Programme Coordinator, Tommy Fegan, tommyfegan@gmail.com or visit https://www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com/events/thomas-darcy-mcgee-summer-school-2019/.